FILE - "Star Wars" action figures Darth Vader, right, and Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi, left, are displayed in this April 7, 1999 file photo, with Princess Leia Organa in her ceremonial dress in front of other packaged characters from the new film. The National Toy Hall of Fame announces its class of 2012 Thursday Nov. 15, 2012. Two toys will be inducted into the Rochester hall from among 12 nominees. (AP Photo/ Victoria Arocho, File) less

FILE - "Star Wars" action figures Darth Vader, right, and Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi, left, are displayed in this April 7, 1999 file photo, with Princess Leia Organa in her ceremonial dress in front of other packaged ... more

Photo: VICTORIA AROCHO

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The National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong in Rochester (http://www.toyhalloffame.org/) narrowed a list of 300 nominees for 2012 induction down to 12. Only two were voted in: 'Star Wars' action figures and Dominoes. (The Strong has operated the Hall since 2002.) (The Strong)

The National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong in Rochester (http://www.toyhalloffame.org/) narrowed a list of 300 nominees for 2012 induction down to 12. Only two were voted in: 'Star Wars' action figures and

In this photo provided by Strong National Museum of Play is the Atari video game system inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, N.Y., Thursday Nov. 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Strong National Museum of Play) ** NO SALES ** (AP)

In this photo provided by Strong National Museum of Play is the Atari video game system inducted into the Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, N.Y., Thursday Nov. 8, 2007. (AP Photo/Strong National Museum of Play) **

Bensch said he would not be surprised if all 12 got into the Hall of Fame someday. Here were the finalists: Which two do you think should join the Slinky (2000) and others someday?

Bensch said he would not be surprised if all 12 got into the Hall of Fame someday. Here were the finalists: Which two do you think should join the Slinky (2000) and others someday?

Photo: JOHN MYERS

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FINALIST: Clue. (All photos courtesy of The Strong)

FINALIST: Clue. (All photos courtesy of The Strong)

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FINALIST: Fisher-Price Corn Popper.

FINALIST: Fisher-Price Corn Popper.

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FINALIST: Lite-Brite.

FINALIST: Lite-Brite.

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FINALIST: Little Green Army Men.

FINALIST: Little Green Army Men.

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FINALIST: Magic 8 Ball.

FINALIST: Magic 8 Ball.

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FINALIST: Pogo Stick.

FINALIST: Pogo Stick.

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FINALIST: Sidewalk Chalk.

FINALIST: Sidewalk Chalk.

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FINALIST: Simon.

FINALIST: Simon.

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FINALIST: Tea Set.

FINALIST: Tea Set.

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ONE OF THE FINALISTS: Twister.

ONE OF THE FINALISTS: Twister.

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'Star Wars,' dominoes in Toy Hall of Fame

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Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia outmuscled little green army men for a spot in the National Toy Hall of Fame. "Star Wars" action figures join centuries-old dominoes in the class of 2012, which was announced by the Rochester hall Thursday.

A national selection committee chose them from among 12 finalists, plucking the most ancient and most modern toys from the list.

"Star Wars" action figures went on the market in 1978, following the 1977 release of the 20th Century Fox movie. The 3 3/4-inch figures of Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and company were sold until 1985 and again from the mid-1990s to today.

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Museum officials say their phenomenal popularity inspired other toy makers to tie their products to movies and television series and they note the toys' appeal extends to adults who continue to collect them.

Dominoes originated in China in the 1300s and appeared later in Europe in a slightly different form. A standard set of 28 tiles represents all possible results when rolling a pair of six-sided dice, with the addition of two blank sides. Although there's a variety of ways to play with them, the cascading toppling of lined-up tiles put the "domino effect" into the American lexicon.

The toys beat out plastic green army men, the board game Clue, the Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Lite-Brite, the Magic 8 Ball, the pogo stick, sidewalk chalk, the electronic game Simon, the tea set and Twister.

To date, 49 toys have made the cut. They range from classics, like Play-Doh and Slinky, to the less obvious, like the stick and cardboard box.

Officials at the Toy Hall of Fame say anyone can nominate a toy and thousands of suggestions come in every year. An internal committee of curators, educators and historians chooses the finalists and then a national selection committee votes for the winners.

Longevity is a key criterion for getting into the 14-year-old hall. Each toy must be widely recognized, foster learning, creativity or discovery through play, and endure in popularity over generations.